LYLE -- A resident brought concerns about water and sewer hook ups on Fifth Street to the Lyle City Council at its meeting Wednesday.

Due to a sewer extension project, those whose lots span from Fourth Street to Fifth Street have been asked to pay for hookup for their lots along Fifth Street.

The cost for hook up would be $5,461. The cost is for if the part of the property on Fifth Street would ever be developed, said Mayor Ron Frank.

Merlin Anderson said, however, that he is not planning to sell that part of his property and already is hooked up to city sewer and water.

He said he would understand if he would have to pay it if he sold the land, but not until then.

Frank agreed that the council needed to look at the issue more closely before deciding if the four properties it affects should pay.

Frank said if the payments were not made, the city would lose the interest on the money it has invested in the project.

Council member Betty Fisher, who lives on one of the affected properties, also thought the payments were unfair.

The sewer system was expanded to accommodate future development of that area. Fisher asked if a cap would be put on the sewer/water hook-up costs. She said eventually the property may not be as attractive if the hook-up fee continues to rise.

The council decided to table the issue until the next meeting after members research the situation.

Jodi Wilder, a bartender and a former manager of the Out of Bounds bar, asked the council how it would be possible to hold another election to see whether the bar could sell liquor on Sundays.

The council told her another election could not be held until May 5 and that they needed to see a petition with signatures from 20 percent of those who voted on the proposal Nov. 5, 2002.

Wilder said the bar is only allowed to be open 15 Sundays during the year. The restaurant would like to serve meals on Sundays when another restaurant in Lyle is closed, Wilder said.

In other business the council:

n Discussed how to update and repair the sewer lines along Locust Street and Fourth Street. The council decided to research the problems, such as standing water on one of the streets, and get quotes on how much repairs would cost.

n Swore in Mayor Ron Frank and Council members Wayne DeBoer and Steve Baumann. Baumann was appointed until the next general election after Robin Meyer, who was elected Nov. 5, announced in December she was moving out of city limits. Baumann had run for re-election and lost to Meyer by 12 votes.

n Approved an agreement to participate in a Mower County Environmental Health project. The county itself is no longer able to sample waste water in the county, but will pay for most of the equipment and training for towns in Mower County. The council approved paying the $80 for the project.

n Approved a variance to allow Jim Erickson, a resident on Fifth Street, to build a 32 by 63 foot, 2,016 square foot pole shed on his property.

n Discussed the League of Cities meeting, which will be held at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 16 in Elkton.

n Decided the personnel meeting would be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 22

The council meets next at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12.

Cari Quam can be reached at 434-2235 or by e-mail at :mailto:cari.quam@austindailyherald.com